The BSI name has been synonymous with best practice for over a century. With its roots in the standardization of the early railway systems, civil engineering and construction, BSI has grown to become a complementary set of world-class businesses. Click on dates to read about some of the key stages in the development and growth of BSI.

BSI became the world's first national standards body after it was established in 1901 as the Engineering Standards Committee. This body established a legacy of service to the business community that has endured for more than a century.

Manufacturers can bring their products and services to market with confidence since BSI pioneered product certification marking. The famous Kitemark was first devised in 1903 and since 1926 it has been in constant use as a mark of assurance to business and consumers alike.

BSI pioneered international collaboration on standards writing as early as 1910 and by 1946 was instrumental in the formation of the international standards body, ISO, which today harmonises standards across international boundaries to facilitate world trade.

BSI established one of the world's first dedicated product testing centres when in 1959 it opened its testing centre in Hemel Hempstead, England. Now one of Europe's largest testing facilities, it has been eliminating risk for manufacturers and assuring consumers for more than forty years.

The development of management systems standards, adopted by more than 345,000 organizations worldwide to help them run more efficiently, was led by BSI, who produced the world's first management systems standard - BS 5750 - in 1979. This standard formed a prototype for the ISO 9000 series.

BSI launched the world's first environment management standard, BS 7750, which was adopted as ISO 14000 in 1996. This legacy means that today's organizations have a powerful tool for managing environmental impacts and integrating them into overall business operations: reducing costs, improving efficiency and securing competitive advantage.

Sustainable development BSI's newly formed Sustainability Group is helping companies manage their activities in a holistic, sustainable and socially responsible way.
Developing areas
	As a co-founder of the SIGMA Project and Project Acorn, BSI is developing in areas including green house gas verification and sustainable supply chain management.
Knowledge Management BSI is continuing to lead best practice developments in this strategically vital field. Innovative paths Latest developments include a programme on Food Safety Management, a telecoms metering Kitemark and Integrated Management Implementation learning. Quality Management Newly introduced distance-learning BSI Diploma in Quality Management - another first for BSI.